FOOTBALL STARS JOIN IDRIS ELBA IN UNITED FOR AFRICA ANTI-EBOLA CAMPAIGN
The fight against Ebola rages on across West Africa, and now, some of football’s most recognizable figures are stepping off the pitch to support those battling the epidemic head-on.
In a powerful new awareness initiative titled “United for Africa”, spearheaded by British actor Idris Elba (of Ghanaian-Sierra Leonean descent), football stars such as Yaya Touré, Patrick Vieira, Carlton Cole, Kei Kamara, and Andros Townsend come together to highlight who the real heroes are in the Ebola fight.
“I’m no hero,” say the players one by one in the campaign videos, stressing that it’s doctors, nurses, and health workers who deserve the title for risking their lives daily to stop the spread of the virus.
In the emotional video clips, the athletes wear jerseys bearing the names of medical personnel, not their own, to honor those on the front lines.
“I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing to help fight Ebola,” explained Yaya Touré, Ivorian international and four-time African Player of the Year. “I also wanted to pay tribute to the many African heroes who are in the villages and towns, putting all their skills, ingenuity, and intelligence to the fight against Ebola.”
🎥 Watch the campaign video
🎥 Tribute to health workers
The campaign has been widely supported, including by CAF (Confederation of African Football), which broadcasted clips of the spot during the 2015 AFCON draw in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The initiative reminds fans and the public that unity, awareness, and collective action are key in the fight against health crises on the continent.
